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Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in Mexico: a theoretic ideal or everyday practice?

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  • Sonja Kaufmann

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)

  • Christian R. Vogl

    (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna)

Abstract

Third-party certification (TPC), the most common organic certification system, has faced growing criticism in recent years. This has led to the development of alternative certification systems, most of which can be classed as Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). PGS have been promoted as a more suitable, cheaper and less bureaucratic alternative to TPC for local markets and are associated with additional benefits such as empowering smallholder farmers, facilitating farmer-to-farmer learning and enhancing food security and sovereignty. PGS have spread rapidly in the past few years, but studies suggest that they are facing numerous challenges that, if not addressed, may jeopardise these benefits. Using the example of three Mexican PGS initiatives, this paper explores the main challenges faced by PGS, specifically those predominantly found in producer-run PGS initiatives. Based on producer and consumer surveys, semi-structured and informal interviews, and participant and non-participant observation, the key challenges that emerged were continuous implementation of the certification process, time constraints, personal conflicts and conflict avoidance. The paper further argues that the requirements for PGS recognition under the Mexican Law for Organic Products may also threaten the continued existence of PGS and suggests that mechanisms for managing conflicts, incentivising PGS participation and mitigating opportunity costs are key if PGS are to continue to develop.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonja Kaufmann & Christian R. Vogl, 2018. "Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in Mexico: a theoretic ideal or everyday practice?," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 35(2), pages 457-472, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:35:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s10460-017-9844-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10460-017-9844-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Walid Mukahhal & Gumataw Kifle Abebe & Rachel A. Bahn, 2022. "Opportunities and Challenges for Lebanese Horticultural Producers Linked to Corporate Buyers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Vincent Canwat & Stephen Onakuse, 2023. "Organic agriculture and agri-food system democracy: an institutional perspective from Kenya," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Mamen Cuéllar-Padilla & Isabel Haro-Pérez & Mirene Begiristain-Zubillaga, 2022. "Participatory Guarantee Systems: When People Want to Take Part," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Farreras, Verónica & Salvador, Pablo F., 2022. "Why do some Participatory Guarantee Systems emerge, become effective, and are sustained over time, while others fail? An application of the Ostrom social-ecological system framework," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Nathalie Binder & Christian Reinhard Vogl, 2018. "Participatory Guarantee Systems in Peru: Two Case Studies in Lima and Apurímac and the Role of Capacity Building in the Food Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Lemeilleur, S. & Allaire, G., 2019. "Participatory Guarantee Systems for organic farming: reclaiming the commons," Working Papers MoISA 201902, UMR MoISA : Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (social and nutritional sciences): CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, L'Institut Agro, Montpellier SupAgro, IRD - Montpellier, France.
    7. Sonja Kaufmann & Nikolaus Hruschka & Luis Vildozo & Christian R. Vogl, 2023. "Alternative Food Networks in Latin America—exploring PGS (Participatory Guarantee Systems) markets and their consumers: a cross-country comparison," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 40(1), pages 193-216, March.
    8. Sonja Kaufmann & Nikolaus Hruschka & Christian R. Vogl, 2020. "Bridging the Literature Gap: A Framework for Assessing Actor Participation in Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-26, October.

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